Extruded aluminum door frame

ABSTRACT

A door for a vending machine having a rectangular frame constructed of elongated extruded aluminum sections welded together. The elongated sections have an identical cross-section of a novel configuration. A unique combination of right angle bends, proper relative wall lengths and a reinforcement portion, serve to form a rigid and durable door frame. One front wall portion of the door frame serves a decorative function as well as a structural function. A depression in the frame, which serves to strengthen the door, also serves to allow a front door panel to be mounted therein so that the panel is flush with the decorative front wall portion.

United States Patent 91 Hoefling Feb. 25, 1975 EXTRUDED ALUMINUM DOOR FRAME Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr. [76] Inventor. Duane A. Hoeflmg, 8708 Carole Circle Des Moines, Iowa 50310 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Henderson & Strom [22] Filed: Feb. 25, 1974 57 S T [2|] Appl. No.: 445,077 A door for a vending machine having a rectangular frame constructed of elongated extruded aluminum [52] U S Cl 52/475 52/455 52/624 sections welded together. The elongated sections have [51] 6 2/38 an identical cross-section of a novel configuration. A [58] Field of Search 52/455, 475, 476, 624, bends P 52/716 732 738 656 me wall lengths and a reinforcement portion, serve to form a rigid and durable door frame. ()ne front wall I 56] Reerences cued portion of the door frame serves a decorative function as well as a structural function. A depression in the UNITED STATES PATENTS frame, which serves to strengthen the door, also serves 3,305,998 2/l967 Deisenroth 52/656 to allow a front door panel to be mounted therein 50 35254190 8/970 Saundfls alt v 52/624 that the panel is flush with the decorative front wall 3,555,746 l/l97l Gelezinnas 52/656 X Portion 3,755,053 8/l973 Lindahl 52/475 X 3,766,700 l0/l973 Nuss 52/624 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Z 7 l r w a l k t I L "-5; T wax 1 EXTRUDED ALUMINUM DOOR FRAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to vending machines, and more particularly to a vending machine door construction.

One of the most critical problems in the designing of a vending machine door is the difficulty of producing a door which is sturdy, but which is not unduly heavy or uneconomical to make. It is important that vending machine doors close tightly, so that it is essential that the door not twist or bend and thereby prevent proper closing thereof. Since these doors can be subject to some abuse, it is particularly important that they be strong. Since vending machines are often moved from place to place, it is also important that the door he relatively light in weight. Additionally, because of the competative nature of the vending machine business, it is important that the doors be economical to produce.

Prior art vending machine doors are normally constructed of steel metal strips and sheets of metal welded together. Hinges, locks, shelves and a decorative trim are then normally attached to such a prior art vending machine door. Often times the decorative trim is a chrome strip around the edge of a door. This and other protruding portions of prior art vending machine doors pose a potential safety hazard. Additionally, chrome strips and other things attached to the doors can cause maintenance problems if they become loose or bent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A door frame structure for a vending machine which is formed from extruded aluminum elongated members welded together in a generally rectangular configuration. The particular cross-section of each of the four extruded elongated members is identical and is of a novel configuration which serves to produce a stronger door than was heretofore possible without using an inordinate amount of metal. Additionally, the shape of the frame lends itself to form a decorative function as well as to allow the mounting of other essential parts of a vending machine thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to produce an economical yet sturdy door which will not easily bend or twist.

Another object of the invention is to produce a lightweight door which is also strong.

A further object of the present invention is to produce a vending machine door frame which is ornamental, without the need to add ornamentation thereto.

Still another object of the present invention is to produce a vending machine door which does not have protruding portions thereon which might pose a safety hazard.

A still further object is to produce a vending machine door frame which can be substantially produced by an extrusion process.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a soft drink vending machine utilizing the door of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial front elevational view of the door of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the back side of the door of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a corner portion of the door frame of the instant invention; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the door frame taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. I shows a soft drink vending machine 10 having a front door I] hingedly attached thereto. The vending machine 10 has a main cabinet portion 12 which holds the items to be vended. as well as the bulk of the operating mechanisms of the vending machine.

The door 11 has a front panel 13 secured thereto such as by metal screws 14 (FIG. 5). The front panel 13 has a plastic display portion 15 at the top thereof. just below the display portion 15 is the control portion 16 of the front panel 13. The control portion 16 has, in this particular embodiment, a number of selector buttons 17 to indicate the flavor or brand of the particular soft drink to be vended. A coin slot 18 is disposed on the right side of the control portion 16 as best shown in FIG. 2. As in a normal vending machine of this type, once a sufficient amount of money in coins has been placed into slot 18, the pushing of one of the selector control buttons 17 will dispense the corresponding product at service opening 19 (FIG. 1). Since this particular vending machine shown, and most vending machines of this type, will accept larger coins and return the change when overpayment is made. a coin return opening 21 is provided in the front panel 13. Also optionally disposed on the front panel 13 is a soft drink opener 22.

The door 11 is mounted to the cabinet 12 by hinges 23 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A key operated lock 24 (FIG. 1) is located on the side of door I I opposite from hinges 23, to thereby provide selective access to the cabinet 12.

The frame 25 of the door 11 is of a unique design. A continuous beam of extruded aluminum is made having a cross-section as shown in FIG. 5. The extruded aluminum beam is then cut, preferably at a 45 degree angle, and four of the pieces of the proper length are welded together at the comers 26. Each of the extruded aluminum elongated members forming the sides and the top and bottom of the frame 25 have an identical crosssectional configuration. A thickened reinforcement portion 27 is connected on one end of an outer perimeter wall 28. A front wall portion 29 is connected at a right angle to the outer perimeter wall 28 at the corner 31. A rearwardly extending wall 32 is connected to front wall 29 at a right angle by corner portion 33. A first inwardly extending wall 34 is connected to the first rearwardly extending wall 32, at a right angle thereto by corner portion 35. Front panel 13 abuts the first rearwardly extending wall 32 and is connected to the first inwardly extending wall 34 by metal screws 14. A second rearwardly extending wall 36 is at least three times as long as first rearwardly extending wall 32. Second rearwardly extending wall 36 is connected to the first inwardly extending wall 34 at a right angle thereto by corner portion 37. Pre-drilled holes in second rearwardly extending wall 36 allow metal screws 38 to be driven directly into sheet metal shelf 39 without the necessity of pre-drilling holes in shelf 39. A second inwardly extending wall 41 supports the back side of shelf 39. The second inwardly extending wall 41 is disposed in a right angle relationship with respect to second rearwardly extending wall 36, and is connected thereto by corner portion 42.

As seen in FIG. 5, for example, parallel walls 29, 34 and 41 will particularly resist bending in a direction along their length or widest portion. Likewise, walls 28, 32 and 36 will particularly resist bending in a direction along a line parallel to the longest sides of these walls as seen in FIG. 5. It can be seen from FIG. 5 that the direction in which walls 29, 34 and 42 will particularly resist bending in perpendicular to the direction in which walls 28, 32 and 36 will particularly resist bending. The additional length of the wall 36 as seen in FIG. 5 adds additional stability to the door in a direction particularly needed in vending machine doors. This combination therefore forms a very strong door frame while using a minimum of metal materials. Additionally, thickened reinforcement portion 27 resists bending in practically all directions, and reinforces the particular part of a door frame which most needs reinforcement. It can therefore be appreciated that this unique shape for a door frame achieves the objective of having a very strong door without using metal reinforcement where it is not needed.

Walls 32 and 34 running around the entire inner perimeter of the door frame additionally serves the purpose of providing a depression for receiving the front panel 13. The front panel 13 therefore does not project beyond the front of the vending machine 10, and therefore does not pose a safety hazard as projecting front panels do. Additionally, front wall 29 replaces the usual chrome strip around a typical vending machine door. Since the frame 25 is ideally made of aluminum, outer visible walls 28 and 29 form a very attractive trim, which is also safer because it does not protrude, while inherently providing the necessary strength for the door frame 25 as referred to above.

The fact that the cross-sectional configuration of this door frame is identical in all of the elongated sections forming the frame, makes the sections particularly suited to being formed by an extrusion process, and for this reason makes the door relatively inexpensive to produce.

The present invention also simplifies the process of placing shelves on the backside of a vending machine door. The expensive and time consuming processes of welding or trying to match up holes in mating shelves and door portions is no longer necessary because metal screws 38 can easily be received in sheet metal shelf 39 without the need for pre-punched holes in shelf 39. The holes through wall 36 are pre-drilled, but their placement is not at all critical because of the fact that no mating of holes in shelf 39 is necessary as explained above.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the present invention is not limited to any particular type of vending machine or type of door. It is therefore to be understood that,

within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

I. A vending machine door comprising:

a first extruded aluminum elongated member;

a second extruded aluminum elongated member having one end thereof secured to one end of said first extruded aluminum elongated member;

a third extruded aluminum elongated member having one end thereof secured to the other end of said second extruded elongated member;

a fourth extruded aluminum elongated member having one end thereof secured to the other end ofsaid third extruded aluminum elongated member, and the other end of said fourth extruded aluminum elongated member being secured to the other end of said first extruded aluminum elongated member;

said first, second, third and fourth extruded aluminum elongated members having an identical shape in cross-section, said cross-sectional shape comprising an outer perimeter wall portion having a substantially thickened reinforcement portion on the rear side thereof, a front wall portion connected at one side to the front side of the outer perimeter wall portion and extending at a right angle thereto, a first rearwardly extending wall portion connected to the other side of said front wall portion at a right angle thereto, a first inwardly extending wall portion connected at one side to the other side of said first rearwardly extending wall portion, a second rearwardly extending wall portion connected at one side to the other side of said first inwardly extending wall portion and a second inwardly extending wall portion connected at one side to the other side of said second rearwardly extending wall portion.

2. A vending machine door as defined in claim 1 wherein a front panel is affixed to said first inwardly extending wall portion wherein the edges thereof abut said first rearwardly extending wall portion of said first, second, third and fourth extruded aluminum elongated members.

3. A vending machine door as defined in claim 2 wherein said front panel is of substantially the same thickness as the length of said first rearwardly extending wall portion.

4. A vending machine door as defined in claim 1 wherein said second rearwardly extending wall portion is at least three times as long as said first rearwardly extending wall portion.

5. A vending machine door as defined in claim 4 wherein said front wall portion, said first rearwardly extending wall portion, and said first and second inwardly extending wall portions are all substantially the same length.

6. A vending machine door as defined in claim 1 wherein said first, second, third and fourth extruded aluminum elongated members are secured together by weld means.

7. A vending machine door as defined in claim 6 wherein said ends of said elongated members abut at a 45 angle. 

1. A vending machine door comprising: a first extruded aluminum elongated member; a second extruded aluminum elongated member having one end thereof secured to one end of said first extruded aluminum elongated member; a third extruded aluminum elongated member having one end thereof secured to the other end of said second extruded elongated member; a fourth extruded aluminum elongated member having one end thereof secured to the other end of said third extruded aluminum elongated member, and the other end of said fourth extruded aluminum elongated member being secured to the other end of said first extruded aluminum elongated member; said first, second, third and fourth extruded aluminum elongated members having an identical shape in cross-section, said crosssectional shape comprising an outer perimeter wall portion having a substantially thickened reinforcement pOrtion on the rear side thereof, a front wall portion connected at one side to the front side of the outer perimeter wall portion and extending at a right angle thereto, a first rearwardly extending wall portion connected to the other side of said front wall portion at a right angle thereto, a first inwardly extending wall portion connected at one side to the other side of said first rearwardly extending wall portion, a second rearwardly extending wall portion connected at one side to the other side of said first inwardly extending wall portion and a second inwardly extending wall portion connected at one side to the other side of said second rearwardly extending wall portion.
 2. A vending machine door as defined in claim 1 wherein a front panel is affixed to said first inwardly extending wall portion wherein the edges thereof abut said first rearwardly extending wall portion of said first, second, third and fourth extruded aluminum elongated members.
 3. A vending machine door as defined in claim 2 wherein said front panel is of substantially the same thickness as the length of said first rearwardly extending wall portion.
 4. A vending machine door as defined in claim 1 wherein said second rearwardly extending wall portion is at least three times as long as said first rearwardly extending wall portion.
 5. A vending machine door as defined in claim 4 wherein said front wall portion, said first rearwardly extending wall portion, and said first and second inwardly extending wall portions are all substantially the same length.
 6. A vending machine door as defined in claim 1 wherein said first, second, third and fourth extruded aluminum elongated members are secured together by weld means.
 7. A vending machine door as defined in claim 6 wherein said ends of said elongated members abut at a 45* angle. 